Dauntless Returns from Patrol on Sunday

Feb 16th, 2007 · Comments Off on Dauntless Returns from Patrol on Sunday

GALVESTON, Texas – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless is scheduled to arrive back in their homeport of Galveston Sunday morning, after traveling more than 7,000 miles during a 45-day law enforcement patrol through the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Florida Straits.

Dauntless’ crew spent the majority of the deployment patrolling the Florida Straits and Caribbean Sea. While on patrol in the Florida Straits, Dauntless interdicted 10 migrants at sea in an unseaworthy vessel, attempting to enter the United States illegally. In the Mona Passage between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, Dauntless interdicted a 15-foot recreational vessel attempting to rendezvous with and provide assistance to a group of migrants attempting to illegally enter Puerto Rico. After a short pursuit, a boarding team from Dauntless was able to stop the vessel and detained both crewmembers for further questioning by Customs & Border Protection agents. In all, the crew provided food, water, shelter and medical care to 144 migrants until their status could be determined and, if warranted, repatriated to their home countries.

While in the Caribbean Sea, Dauntless’ crewmembers also boarded a merchant vessel suspected of smuggling illegal narcotics into Miami. When Dauntless’ boarding team was unable to inspect all spaces at sea, they relayed key information to shore side assets. Upon reaching the Port of Miami, joint federal and local law enforcement agencies conducted a dockside boarding, seizing five kilograms of cocaine.

Working with the Department of Defense, Dauntless conducted visual communications drills with a U.S. Navy destroyer and participated in a Joint Task Force migrant exercise in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry.

Throughout their patrol, Dauntless’ crewmembers conducted extensive damage control, seamanship, navigation, engineering, medical and gunnery training. Dauntless also participated in helicopter operations with several Coast Guard air stations, re-qualifying her own crew as well as multiple pilots and rescue swimmers. The crew also found time to relax, visiting Key West, Florida, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Dauntless continues to fill a vital role in the Department of Homeland Security by conducting national defense and maritime homeland security missions, interdicting illegal drugs, preventing illegal immigration, and rescuing mariners in distress off the coasts of the United States and worldwide.

Dauntless, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter, was commissioned in June 1968 and is the largest Coast Guard Cutter based in Texas.